A New York City Council staffer was hauled away by ICE officials when he showed up to a routine court check-in at a Long Island immigration center Monday, a Big Apple official said.
The employee, a Venezuelan national, is now in custody at a federal detention center in lower Manhattan – despite holding a work visa that allows him to stay in the country until October, Council Speaker Julie Menin said during a Monday evening press conference.
The unidentified staffer was doing “everything right” when the court appointment “quickly went awry” in Bethpage, leading to the detainment and later transfer to the Manhattan facility, Menin, a Democrat, said.
Council Speaker Julie Menin said the NYC Council employee is a victim of “egregious government overreach.” New York City Council
“Despite every indication that he was doing everything the right way, he still found himself the victim of egregious government overreach,” she said, calling the feds’ actions “unacceptable.”
The employee’s detainment prompted various city leaders, including Mayor Zohran Mamdani, to call for his freedom.
“I am outraged to hear a New York City Council employee was detained in Nassau County by federal immigration officials at a routine immigration appointment. This is an assault on our democracy, on our city, and our values,” he said on X.
“I am calling for his immediate release and will continue to monitor the situation.”
The worker is a data analyst and has worked in city government for about a year, according to Menin.
The Council speaker didn’t reveal more information about the staffer to protect his identity.
She said she was unable to reach the immigration facility where he was detained, but spoke with the Department of Homeland Security.
“DHS confirmed this employee had gone in for a routine court appointment and was nevertheless detained,” Menin said. “They provided no other basis for his detainment.”
I am outraged to hear a New York City Council employee was detained in Nassau County by federal immigration officials at a routine immigration appointment. This is an assault on our democracy, on our city, and our values. I am calling for his immediate release and will continue…
— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) January 12, 2026
The staffer signed an attestation in January that he has never been arrested, Menin said.
“We will stand up for the right over every single neighbor,” she added.
An email to the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement was not immediately returned.
City leaders became aware of the situation after the staffer used his one call after detainment to call the Council’s human resources department.
It’s not uncommon for federal agents to take migrants into custody during routine appointments at immigration courthouses, including in Manhattan, under the second Trump administration.
“There’s no indication other than his immigration status that caused him to be arrested,” said House Rep. Dan Goldman (D-Manhattan.)
He argued the federal government would work quickly to deport the staffer back to Venezuela, a nation in turmoil after its leader, Nicolás Maduro, was captured by US forces and brought to New York to face a federal drug indictment.
Goldman argued federal authorities are going after the “easiest prey they can find.”
“And that is the people who are going to court and going to their check-ins,” he said.
The detainment comes amid rising tension between ICE and Democratic lawmakers over the fatal shooting of a Minneapolis anti-ICE protester by a federal officer.
An ICE agent opened fire on Renee Nicole Good after the Trump administration alleged she tried to “weaponize” her SUV and clipped the officer while turning her wheel away.
Menin, at Monday’s press conference, said the Council staffer has an immigration lawyer and city officials are trying to reach his family as New York Democrats voiced their support for the employee.
“This is someone who is working to make his city better, is here with legal status, did the right thing and showed up for his immigration appointment,” City Comptroller Mark Levine said in a statement.
“An absolute outrage. He must be released immediately.”
New York State Attorney General Letitia James also called for the release of the staffer.
“We will not stand for attacks on our city, its public servants, and its residents,” she tweeted.